I'll be the Bad Guy

Chapter 61: The Burden of Peace

Lexa's POV-

We start riding in the early morning again, and there's a lightness in the air. Everyone is in a good mood, and so am I. I feel oddly relaxed and content.

Anya rides to my right and Clarke, just behind us.

"are Yu planning chit biyo gon em?" [Are you planning what to say to her?] I ask Anya.

She shoots me a rageful glare.

"na Skai gada understand yumi?" [Can the sky girl understand us?] She responds, meaning Clarke.

"Nou." [No.] I say. I catch a glimpse of Clarke's smirk as I try to hide my own.

"she wrote Ai a long letter. she gaf in bilaik together, ba Ai nou get in ha dei de could work." [She wrote me a long letter. She wants us to be together, but I don't know how that would work.]

"Ai get in Yu believe raun Hodnes laik kwelnes, ba jos a Strik kwelnes nou na bash op anyone." [I know you believe that love is weakness, but just a little weakness never hurt anyone.] I sigh.

"Ai've heard hod in na make Yu dula op koken things like forming alliances kom bilaik enemies." [I heard love can make you do crazy things like forming alliances with your enemies.] I smirk, catching Clarke's gaze in my peripheral vision.

"enemies? Yu biyo?" [enemies? You say?] Clarke interjects.

Anya shoots her head around in shock that Clarke could understand and speak our language. I try to repress my laugh and smile but can't help it.

"I can't believe you!!" Anya whines.

"Sorry!" I laugh.

Anya's cheeks flush pink and she shakes her head in annoyance.

"I'm sorry too!" Clarke chuckles. Anya rolls her eyes and wears a scowl for the remainder of the journey.

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(11 Hours Later)

Clarke's POV-

As the sun casts a golden glow on the horizon, we finally can see the silhouette of the Ark in the distance, nestled between several lush green mountains.

I watch as Lexa stiffens her posture and holds her horse's reigns slightly tighter. Her eyes are trained on the gates and her relaxed facial expression turns into a hard stare, so as not to show the slightest emotion.

Minutes later, we cross through the gates.

I see my mother and Kane with their fingers neatly interlaced and their posture tall. The rest of the citizens crowd behind the two to watch us arrive. Raven, Octavia, and Monty are immediately behind my mother, beaming towards me.

Lexa pulls the reigns of her tall dark horse, and the group immediately stops. She holds her right hand to the sky signaling for us to step down.

In the silence of the foggy evening, boots drop to the damp earth with a shuffling noise.

"Welcome, Commander!" Abby exclaims. Her smile is radiant as she steps forward to shake Lexa's hand. Lexa simply glances down toward her outstretched hand but makes no effort to reciprocate the handshake.

Abby clears her throat in an awkward silence before revoking her hand.

"Thank you for having us, Chancellor Griffin." Lexa finally replies, stoically.

Her demeanor is stony and intense. In other words, there is a bubble of power surrounding her and everyone can feel it's presence.

Kane clears his throat and steps forward, nodding his head in respect towards Lexa.